He said CAIS was “more than willing” to look after troubled ex-soldiers. Many are traumatised or have turned to alcohol or drugs to cope. Twelve beds would be the minimum to run it economically.

CAIS already runs a 24-bed unit called Hafan Wen in Wrexham for people with drug and alcohol problems.

Mr White said: “If health authorities willed it, a specialist service could be reinstated in the Llandudno area.”

Ex-serviceman Private Steve Meacham, 34, of Penmaenmawr, agrees a new unit is needed.

The dad-of-two served in The Highlanders in Northern Ireland and the Gulf during a military career spanning 1989-95 and suffers flashbacks and nightmares.

He said: “The staff at T Gwyn were like family figures. They understood what we’d been through because they had heard it so many times.”

He said his problems continue: “I won’t sit with my back to a door or to loads of people. I like to see what’s going on.”

A Welsh Assembly Government spokesman said: “Our substance misuse capital fund can be used to fund units such as the one proposed by CAIS.

He added that the fund is allocated on a regional basis through community safety partnerships.

“The partnerships must submit a regional package of proposals to us for consideration.

“We are aware that a proposal for a residential rehabilitation unit was discussed at the beginning of this financial year by the partnerships in North Wales, although not specifically for ex-servicemen, but they decided that it was not a priority for their area so did not submit the proposal to us for consideration.

“Again, it would be a matter for the North Wales community safety partnerships to decide whether to submit the proposal for funding from their 08-09 allocation,” he said.